The First Epistle To The Thessalonians - Executable Outlines
The First Epistle To The Thessalonians - Executable Outlines
The First Epistle To The Thessalonians - Executable Outlines
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a. Completed through the work of the apostles - Ac 20:32; 2 Pe 1:3<br />
b. Revealed one time for all times - Ju 3<br />
c. Thus we have that which can make us complete - cf. 2 Ti 3:16-17<br />
4. <strong>To</strong>day, if we desire to receive God’s truth...<br />
a. We cannot look to their spoken word, since they are no longer living<br />
b. We must look to their written Word, i.e., the Bible<br />
c. We must accept God’s Word in its entirety - cf. Psa 119:160<br />
C. THE SUPPRESSION OF THE TRUTH...<br />
1. Mankind has a history of resisting God’s truth...<br />
a. Israel suffered this affliction - cf. Hos 4:1<br />
b. <strong>The</strong> Gentiles likewise, especially the wise - cf. Ro 1:18-23<br />
2. In New Testament times, Christians could be guilty of resisting truth also...<br />
a. By “quenching the Spirit” - 1 Th 5:19<br />
1) Refusing to heed what the Spirit was still making known at that time<br />
2) Cutting off the revelation of God’s truth intended for them<br />
b. By “despising prophecies” - 1 Th 5:20<br />
1) Belittling the prophecies being made known through the prophets<br />
2) Refusing to accept what the prophets of God were revealing<br />
3. <strong>To</strong>day, we can stifle the truth of God...<br />
a. “Quenching the Spirit” through neglecting God’s revealed Word<br />
b. “Despising prophecies” through rejecting the apostles’ teaching<br />
[Through neglect or outright rejection of God’s Word, we can be guilty of stifling the truth, and suffer<br />
the consequences of not having the benefits of truth in our lives. <strong>To</strong> avoid being misled by false<br />
prophets or false interpretations of God’s word, we need to...]<br />
II. EXAMINE ALL THINGS BY THE TRUTH<br />
A. CLAIMS OF TRUTH NEED TO BE CHALLENGED...<br />
1. As Paul wrote: “Test (prove, KJV) all things” - 1 Th 5:21a<br />
a. This is not quenching the Spirit nor despising prophecies<br />
b. But a recognition that not all claims to be from God are true<br />
2. As John wrote: “...do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits” - 1 Jn 4:1<br />
a. For many false prophets have come into the world<br />
b. It is not quenching the Spirit to test what people claim is a revelation from God<br />
Mark A. Copeland<br />
B. EXAMINING CLAIMS OF TRUTH...<br />
1. <strong>The</strong> Bereans provide a noble example - Ac 17:11<br />
a. <strong>The</strong>y received the word with all readiness (i.e., they paid careful attention to what Paul<br />
said)<br />
b. <strong>The</strong>y searched the Scriptures daily (to see if what Paul taught was true)<br />
-- This is how the Bereans tested Paul’s teaching, for which they were commended as<br />
being “fair-minded”<br />
2. In examining all things by the truth today, we need to...<br />
a. Give people a fair hearing - Ac 17:11<br />
Sermons From <strong>First</strong> <strong>The</strong>ssalonians 65
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